(Newser)
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A former radio DJ accused of groping Taylor Swift before a concert testified Tuesday that he may have touched the pop superstar's ribs with a closed hand as he tried to jump into a photo with her but insisted he did not touch her backside as she claims. David Mueller told jurors at the civil trial on dueling lawsuits filed by Mueller and Swift that he and the singer-songwriter were trying to reach around one another and "our hands touched and our arms touched" during a photo opportunity he estimated lasted no more than 40 seconds, reports the AP. Under questioning by his attorney, Mueller said he may have touched Swift's "rib cage, or rib, or ribs."

The 2013 photo of Swift, Mueller, and Mueller's girlfriend taken at the pre-concert event in Denver is a key piece of evidence in Mueller's suit claiming he was fired after being falsely accused by Swift. He is seeking at least $3 million. The photo shows Mueller with his hand behind Swift, just below her waist. Both are smiling. Her lawyers have called the photo "damning" proof that Mueller groped her. Mueller's lawyer, Gabriel McFarland, showed jurors the photograph during his opening remarks. "If you look at that photograph, his hand is not underneath Miss Swift's skirt, and her skirt is not rumpled in any fashion," McFarland said, noting that no one on Swift's concert team saw anything amiss. Mueller also testified that one of his station bosses told him he touched Swift's butt, but Swift says she is positive it was Mueller. Swift is seeking $1.

I don't know how this guy figured he'd just be touching her ribs. The woman I know don't have ribs below their waists, and what is there is the "butt". "Rib cage, rib or ribs" is baloney, and if the photo shows the guy's hand below her waist it is certainly not touching her ribs at all.

George939

Aug 9, 2017 8:04 PM CDT

"If you look at that photograph, his hand is not underneath Miss Swift's skirt..." - Gabriel McFarland I'm going to say that statement is designed to be misleading. Most likely because his client is guilty.

TheJman

Aug 9, 2017 7:16 PM CDT

If she felt uncomfortable during the photo shoot she could have said something. This is BS and her butt isn't worth a million.